When Lee Jung-jae returned to the set of “Squid Game” for its second season, it felt as though he had never left the character of Gi-hun behind.
In a recent interview, Lee shared that, between the promotion and filming, he had spent about two years immersed in the role of Gi-hun. “I really felt like I was him,” Lee said, reflecting on his deep connection to the character.
“Squid Game” is centered around a deadly competition in South Korea where financially struggling participants are lured into playing childhood games for a chance to win a large sum of money, only to discover that losing the games results in fatal consequences.
The series, which became a global sensation upon its release in 2021, broke records, becoming Netflix’s most-watched show. It earned multiple accolades, including Primetime Emmy Awards for Lee Jung-jae’s performance and Hwang Dong-hyuk’s direction. Lee’s rising fame from the show led to an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival and secured his first English-language role in Disney+’s “Star Wars” series, “The Acolyte.”
When Netflix greenlit a second season of “Squid Game,” Lee Jung-jae questioned how long it would take, given that it had taken director Hwang Dong-hyuk several years to create the first season. “I wondered, ‘How many years will it take him to write season two?’” Lee admitted. However, Hwang surprised everyone — including himself — by completing the scripts for both the second and third seasons in just six months. Reflecting on this, Hwang remarked, “I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to write something that fast again.”
Creating new characters and their unique storylines came naturally to Hwang Dong-hyuk. However, the most challenging aspect, he explained, was figuring out Gi-hun’s story arc. After reading the scripts, Lee Jung-jae praised Hwang’s work, calling him “a genius.”
It’s uncommon for successful Korean TV shows to have more than one season, making the decision to move forward with a second season a bold step, especially for the new cast members. Actor Yang Dong-geong, who introduces a new character in season two, acknowledged the challenge. “There’s a Korean saying, ‘There’s no sequel better than its prequel,'” he shared. “I’ve been cautious because we’re unsure of how it will be received.” Despite the uncertainty, the outlook for the show is promising, with season two already receiving a nomination for Best Drama Series at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards.
For many performers, working on a project with global reach is a dream come true. Lee Byung-hun, who returns as the villain in season two of Squid Game, has previously starred in major Hollywood films like G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra alongside Channing Tatum and Dennis Quaid, and Red 2 with Bruce Willis. However, it is Squid Game that he credits with taking his career to new heights.
Having been an actor for over 30 years, Lee reflects that many people outside of Korea may not have seen his previous work. He expresses immense joy and fulfillment in the fact that Squid Game has sparked greater interest in his past roles. “If anyone is now curious about my other works, nothing would make me prouder as an actor,” he shares.
The audition process for the show was lengthy. Jo Yu-ri remembers waiting two months between the first and second rounds. When she was finally cast, she recalls feeling overwhelmed and emotional, even crying in the moment. The actors were instructed not to publicly reveal their roles until Netflix made an official announcement. Yang Dong-geong shared that a few close friends celebrated his casting with champagne when they learned the news.
The Squid Game franchise is expanding, with a second season of the reality competition show based on the series already ordered, and an English-language version in the works. Additionally, season three of the original series has finished filming and is currently in post-production.
However, season two has sparked some controversy. It introduces a transgender character, played by Park Sung-hoon. Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Squid Game, acknowledged that casting a transgender actor would have been ideal. Still, he explained that the decision reflects the current view of the LGBTQ community and gender identity in South Korea.
“In Korea, the LGBTQ and gender minority communities are not as widely accepted as in the Western world,” Hwang said. “Sadly, many of these groups are marginalized and overlooked, which is heartbreaking.” He also pointed out the limited pool of actors available for authentic casting of transgender characters in Korea, despite their best efforts to find the right person for the role.
Hwang clarified that while they were unable to find a transgender actor for the part, Park Sung-hoon’s talent and ability to embody the character made him the perfect fit for the role.